"Emma..."
"Hare Trimmed" is a 1953 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng and featuring Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam and Granny, the latter in one of her few appearances outside of the Sylvester and Tweety shorts.
Sam learns that a local widow (Granny) has inherited $50 million and decides to marry her for her money, after which he intends to throw the residents of the old people's home out, raze the orphanage, and eliminate the police department. Unbeknownst to him, however, Bugs has overheard the ornery ruffian's evil intentions and vows to keep the widow safe, as only he can.
This short was later edited into both the 1979 TV special Bugs Bunny's Valentine (a.k.a. Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers) and the 1981 theatrical film The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie.
A soundbite of Sam laughing in this cartoon was also used for the enemy Jack in Streets of Rage 2.
"Hare Trimmed" provides examples of:
- Be Careful What You Wish For: After the Kitchen Sink Included bit, Sam says not to forget the money. The disguised Bugs obliges by dropping a safe on him.
- Bowdlerise: This cartoon was one of the most frequently shown on ABC's The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show, so it underwent thorough editing. There, the following cuts were made: 1) The entire scene between Sam being crushed by a piano and Granny running up the stairs in fright, eliminating the entire black coffee scene, which shows Bugs, disguised as Granny, serving Sam two lumps — to his head, as well as Sam kicking the coffee out of the real Granny's hand in retaliation before he realizes, to his horror, that it was the real Granny and not Bugs in disguise; 2) Sam's attempts to try to get back to Granny, who is hiding from him and defending herself with a rifle, which she fires at Sam twice, first when he's trying to peer at her through the keyhole and then when he tries to get into her room through the transom; and 3) Sam willing to take another two lumps to the head from the disguised Bugs ("I like it, I like it!").
- The Chew Toy: Sam, as usual.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Bugs is motivated to intervene because he's disgusted by the idea of someone exploiting a widow.
- Cock Fight: Between Bugs and Sam for Granny.
- Crocodile Tears: The cartoon ends with Bugs pretending to cry over losing Sam.Bugs: Boo-hoo-hoo. Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride. Boo-hoo-hoo.
- Cranial Eruption: Bugs' idea of serving Sam lumps is not in his coffee, but to his noggin with a mallet.
- Duel to the Death: Bugs challenges Sam to this, with pistols at ten paces. Sam accepts the challenge.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: To save Granny, Bugs disguises himself as a French suitor, complete with exaggerated French accent. When Bugs encounters Sam, he says a French version of his classic Catchphrase:"Eh, what eez up, monsieur le phisicien?"
- Glove Slap: When Sam spots Bugs trying to muscle in on his attempts to woo Granny, he slaps the rabbit in the face with a glove. Bugs retaliates by slapping Sam back with his own glove, which he has loaded with a brick so that it really hurts. This leads to a Duel to the Death (see above).
- Gold Digger: Sam makes no bones about marrying Granny for her money, fantasizing about the nefarious deeds he plans to commit with it."When I get my hands on that money, I'll buy the old lady's home and kick the old ladies out, I'll have the orphans' home torn down, and I'll get rid of the police department. Mu-hu-ha-ha-ha!"
- Historical Longevity Joke: As Sam chases Granny, she muses that she hasn't seen this much action since the boys got back from Gettysburg. Mind you, at the time the Battle of Gettysburg had only been ninety years before.
- Kitchen Sink Included: As Bugs, disguised as Granny, decides to "take a few things along" with them for their elopement, he tosses Sam various furniture and other household items. After collecting several items, Sam, glancing toward the camera, remarks, "That dame's takin' everything but the kitchen sink!" Cue the inevitable kitchen sink landing in his arms.
- Mistaken for an Imposter: Seeing that Sam is "looped" (that is, having been crushed by the piano), Granny offers him some black coffee and goes off to get some. Then Bugs, disguised as Granny, runs up with a tray of coffee and asks Sam for "one lump or two" of sugar. Sam asks for two lumps, which Bugs delivers — to his head with a mallet, then runs off. Then the real Granny shows up with another coffee tray and also asks if Sam wants one lump or two. Sam, thinking it's Bugs again, angrily kicks the tray out of her hand and shouts, "THAT'S how many!" Granny recoils in shock and runs up the stairs, crying, "He's flipped his lid!" When he hears how Granny sounds, Sam realizes his mistake and tries to make amends, to no avail.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Sam, when he realizes he had lashed out at the real Granny by mistake.
- The Peeping Tom: As Granny hides from Sam in a room with a rifle, Sam peers at her through the keyhole — and is shot at through it.Sam: (singsong voice) I can see you through the keyhole...! (bang!)
- Runaway Groom: After being put through so much hell and then discovering the true identity of his "bride" at the wedding, Sam ultimately decides not to marry after all and runs off, leaving Bugs at the altar, not that he's all that upset about it.
- Squashed Flat: As Sam chases Bugs up a flight of stairs, the rabbit pushes a piano down the stairs in his nemesis' path. Sam tries to run from the piano, but isn't quite fast enough, and the piano reaches the bottom of the stairs before he does, flattened by it.
- Stripping Snag: As Bugs and Sam walk down the aisle, Bugs' wedding dress snags on a nail on the floor, ripping off the train. When Sam looks back at his "bride" and sees a bare cotton tail, he freaks out and bails.
- Ten Paces and Turn: As part of their Duel to the Death with pistols, Bugs starts counting to 10, but while Sam starts actually pacing, Bugs cheats, first by pacing in place, and then, when he reaches 9, by going into some crazy fractions before reaching 10. All the while, Sam keeps pacing, not realizing until Bugs reaches 10 that he has been tricked into the middle of the street, having timed it all so that, as Sam turns to Bugs with his gun drawn, a bus runs him over.Bugs: (looking at his watch) Eeeeyep, he's right on time.
Sam: (dazed) Ooh, what a night... - Tipped Off by the Tail: Bugs is walking down the aisle with Sam when the dress is caught in a nail, exposing his cottontail. Sam sees it and realizes he's marrying a rabbit, leading to a Freak Out.
- Visual Pun: Granny literally has money to burn — that is, she uses actual dollar bills to keep her fire going. In fact, her wood pile is clearly labeled "money to burn".
- Wholesome Crossdresser: In the second half, Bugs disguises himself as Granny to fool Sam.
- Worth It: Averted in this case. Unlike "Honey's Money", Sam decides no amount of money is worth being hitched (not that he realizes he had been decieved). Bugs, in drag, doesn't seem too bothered by it.
